Pumping apparatus



Aug. 22, 1939. L. CLARK PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m mi i h bl wm-gy/la Illlllllll' 'Snvefiton, L L CLARK (lttorneg Aug. 22, 1939. L. CLARK PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a n w ll. llllllll attorney Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic apparatus for elevating a liquid from an enclosed space b-y-alternately introducing to such space, air or gas under pressure to force liquid therefrom, then refilling the space by subjecting the same to suction.

Other objects are to provide improved means for forcing water from a well, tank or other eniclosed space and to provide means for regulating Y the alternate application of pressure and suction to such space whereby a considerable part of the air or gas under pressure employed in forcing the liquid from the space can be reused with the expenditure of a small amount of energy.

A particular object is to provide a pumping apparatus of the character above indicated and to provide simple, efiicient timing means therefor which will automatically operate by the alternate pressure and suction employed in the pumping operation.

The above and other obvious objects are accomplished and additional ends are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which there is shown an illustrative embodimentof the invention, it being understood that the invention is not confined to the particular form shown and that the same may be applied in various ways .30 to various pumping operations and that changes and modifications may be made which come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a pumping '35 apparatus constructed'in accordance with this invention, the same being somewhat diagrammatic in character with parts shown in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a central, cross sectional view of one of the valves used in reducing the invention to practice.

Figure 3 is a like view of same showing the valve operated to a diiferent position.

Figure 4 is a central, vertical, sectional view of 5 a check valve employed in my improved apparatus.

Figure 5 is a central, vertical, sectional view showing a suction operated valve which may be employed in reducing the invention to practice.

. Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention, the same being somewhat diagrammatic in character with parts shown in cross section to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Figure 7 is a central, vertical, sectional view of one form of valve which may be employed in carrying out the invention, the same being shown with the stem portion broken away and the valve shown mounted in a pipe line with the end portions of the pipe shown.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of the invention with reference to the particular adaptation thereof disclosed in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes an .air compressor which may be of any desired construction and which is 10 provided with an inlet pipe 6 and an outlet pipe 1. The outlet pipe 1 is operatively connected to a pressure tank 8. A suitable valve 9 is operatively interposed in the pipe 6 and is operable to regulate the passage of air or gas therethrough. 15 A regulatable check valve I0 is also interposed in the pipe 6 for a purpose hereinafter described. The outlet pipe I is provided with a suitable valve operable to regulate the flow of air to the tank 8. The tank 8 is provided with a suit- 20 able safety valve |2.

The numeral l3 denotes a pipe which leads from the tank 8 and is operatively connected to a three-way valve M as shown in Figures 3 and, 2. The pipe 6 is connected to the valve 4 and is 5 disposed at a rightangle to the adjacent portion of the pipe IS. A pipe I5 is also connected to a valve l4 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The valve I4 is operated to operatively connect the pipe IS with the pipe |3 or to connect the pipe l5 with ,30 the pipe 6.

The numeral lldenotes a well casing and the numeral |8 a tube which is closed at the upper end thereof with a lid l9 which is suitably secured thereto. The lower end of the tube |8 is 5 provided with a suitable inlet valve 20 which automatically operates to admit fluid thereto,,but checks the flow of fluid therefrom. The pipe |5 is operatively-connected to the upper end portion of the tube l8. The delivery pipe 2| is po- 40 sitioned through the lid I9 and projects downwardly. in the tube M3 to a point adjacent the bottomthereof; suitable packing 22 being, employed to seal the opening through which the pipe 2| projects. The pipe 2| is provided at 5 the bottom thereof with a check valve 23 which will admit water or other liquid to the pipe but check the flow of the same therefrom.

A horizontal tube 25 leads from the vertical portion of the pipe l3 and a cylinder 26 is op- 50 eratively secured thereto. The cylinder 26 is provided with a piston 21 and a piston rod 28 projects outwardly from the outwardly presented end of the cylinder 26. Thecylinder 26 is provided at the bottom thereof with suitable lugs 29 5,5

and the piston rod 28 is provided adjacent the other end thereof with a cross arm 30 having a spring 3i secured to each end thereof with the other end of each spring secured to one of the lugs 29.

A suitable valve 32 is operatively interposed in the line I3 between the tank 8 and the pipe 25 to regulate the flow of air through the pipe I3. A lever 33 is fulcrumed to a suitable standard 34 and projects horizontally therefrom with the end portion thereof positioned below the cylinder 25. The lever 33 is provided adjacent the free end thereof with a weight 35 which is adjustably secured thereto. The valve I4 is provided with an operating arm 35 and a pitman 3! is pivotally secured to the arm 36 and the lever 33 as shown in Figure 1.

The numeral 38 denotes a trigger member which is hingedly secured to a standard 40 as at 33 and extends upwardly with the upper portion thereof in the path of movement of the piston rod 28. A spring 4| yieldably holds the member 38 with the upper portion thereof in contact with the outwardly projecting end of the piston rod 28. The member 38 is provided with two stops 42 and 43. The stop 42 is positioned to engage the end of the lever 33 to support the same in the position shown in Figure 1. The stop 43 is relatively wider than the stop 42 and is positioned below the stop 42 to limit the downward movement of the lever 33 when it is released from the stop 42.

When the lever 33 is in the position shown in Figure 1, the valve I4 is held in the position shown in Figure 2 and when the lever 33 is moved downwardly to the stop 43 the valve I4 is in the position shown in Figure 3.

The line i5 is provided with a by-pass line 45 each end of which is connected by suitable fittings to the line I5. The line 45 is provided intermediately thereof with a T-coupling in which is mounted a pipe 46 which projects upwardly therefrom approximately in the plane of movement of the lever 33. A hollow cylinder 41 is operatively mounted on the pipe 45 and a piston 48 is mounted therein. A piston rod 43 projects upwardly from the piston 48 through the upper wall of the cylinder 41. The upper end of the piston rod 49 is provided with afork 50 in which is received the lever 33. The cylinder 48 is provided with base lugs 5| and the rod 49 with a cross arm 52. The numeral 53 denotes coil springs one of which is secured between each endof the cross arm and one of the lugs 5I whereby the piston will be normally urged by said springs 53 to a downward position in the cylinder 41.

The by-pass line 45 is provided on one side of the pipe 46 with a valve 54 which may be operated to regulate the flow of air from the line I5 to the cylinder 41. The line 45 is also provided on the other side of the pipe 46 with a valve 55.

The valve 55 is provided with a valve seat 56 for receivingthe valve head 51. The valve head '51 is mounted on the stem 58 which projects upwardly from thevalve 55. An upward movement of the stem 58 opens the valve 55 while a downward movement thereof brings the valve head 51. in contact with the seat 55 to close the valve.

The numeral 59 denotes a washer which is positioned on the stem 58 and which is adjustably supported thereon by the nut 60 which is threaded on said stem. Thenumeral BI denotes a coil spring which is positioned on the stem 58 and is supported by the washer 59. A second washer 62 is positioned on the stem 58 and rests on the upper end of the spring 6|. A suitable nut 53 is threaded on the upper end portion of the stem 53. The arm 54 is pivotally secured to the lever 33 so as to depend therefrom. The lower end of the arm 64 terminates in a horizontal portion 65 which is provided with an aperture 66 in which is received the upper end portion of the stem 58 with the horizontal portion 65 positioned between the nut 63 and the washer 32.

While the vacuum operated valve It may be of any desired construction, in Figure 5 I have shown one form of valve which may be used for the purpose herein described and which consists of a tube Illa, having an interiorly threaded cap Iilb operatively positioned thereon. The cap IIlb is provided on the upper side thereof with a boss I00. The boss I00 is provided with a threaded bore which terminates at the lower end thereof in a valve seat IGd. A coil spring We is positioned within the cap Ifib to yieldably hold a ball I51 in said seat. A suitable screw Iflg is mounted in the bore in the boss Mic. The screw mg is provided with a. longitudinally projecting slot which is relatively wide at the lower end of the screw, and which has side walls which converge adjacent the upper end of the screw whereby the screw illg may be operated in the boss Ific to regulate the amount of air which can pass through the valve.

To start the apparatus in operation, the valve 32 is closed and the valve 3 opened. The valve If) in the line 6 is regulated to readily admit air thereto and the lever 33 is positioned as shown in Figure 1 and the compressor 5 is operated to fill the tank 8 with air at a desired pressure. The valve 9 is then regulated and the valve 32 opened to admit pressure from the tank to the line I3. The air flows from the line I3 through the pipe 25 to the cylinder 25 and forces the. piston 2'! outwardly in said cylinder. As the piston is thus forced outwardly, the piston rod 28 engages the trigger member 38 and moves the stop 42 from beneath the end of the lever 33. The lever 33 is carried downwardly by the weight 35 to the stop 43 and moves the valve I4 to the position shown in Figure 3, thus connecting the pipe I3 with the pipe I5 through which air flows to the tube I8 and forces water from the tube I8 upwardly into the pipe 2|. It will be seen that with the downward movement of the lever 33, the horizontal portion 55 of the depending arm 54 will rest on the spring El and hold the valve 5'! in a closed position.

The valve 54 has been previously regulated to slowly admit air therethrough and air enters the cylinder 47 and slowly raises the piston 48. The fork 53 engages the lever 33 and moves the same upwardly until the depending arm 64 engages the nut 63 and opens the valve 5'! whereupon air rushes from the pipe I5 through the valve 55 to the cylinder 41 and instantly raises the lever 33 to its initial position. The springs 3i on the cylinder 25 have sufficient strength to return the piston 21 to its initial position against the reduced pressure which results from the air flowing into the cavity of the tube 18 thus permitting the spring M to force the member 38 to its initial position and causing the lever 33 to be engaged by the stop 42. As this movement operates the valve I4 to the position shown in Figure 2, the compressed air within the tube I8 is drawn into the air compressor 5 and forced into the tank 8. As soon as the air in the tube I8 and the pipe 7 I 5 has been pumped'into thetank 8=the compressor 5 exerts a suction in the'tube l8 which draws water from the casing l1 upwardly into the tube I8. I

The suction in the line I5 also draws the piston 48 downwardly in the-cylinder 47. As the compressor continues to operate, additional air is drawn through the valve I0 until the original pressure within the tank 8 has been replaced. This again causes the piston 21 to automatically operate the lever 33 and the valve I4, thus providing means for alternately subjecting the tube I6 to a partial vacuum and to air under pressure for the purpose offorcing water therefrom. The valves 9, II, 32 and 54 may be regulated to time the periods of operation and the valves I0 may be operated to regulate the amount-of suction to which the interior of the pipe I8 is to be subjected.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated an adaptation of the invention in which a. pipe line 65 is connected to the tank l2 in the same manner as the pipe I3. The pipe line 65 is operatively connected by a T-coupling to a pipe 66 which leads to the tube I8 in the same manner as the pipe I5. A pipe line 68 leads from the T-coupling 61 and is operatively connected to the inlet end of the compressor 5 in the same manner as the pipe 6. A pipe 10 projectshorizontally from the line 65 and a hollow cylinder 1| having a closed end is slidably mounted on the pipe I9; suitable packing 12 being employed to seal the open end of the cylinder 'H.

The horizontal portion65a of the pipe line 65 is provided with a valve I3 which includes a valve head 13a having a valve rod 14 which depends therefrom and which is normally held in a closed position by the spring 14a as shown in Figure 7. The spring 1411 yieldably holds the valve 13a in a closed position and the valve is opened by a downward movement of the rod 14. The rod I4 is provided on the lower end thereof with a loop 15 through which extends a horizontal lever I9 which is fulcrumed to a suitable post 'I! or other supporting structure :by a hinge member 19 for a vertical swinging movement thereon.

The lever '19 is provided adjacent the free end thereof with a weight 19 which is adjustably secured thereto and which normally moves the lever I6 to a downward position.

The numeral 90 denotes a post or other support which is provided on the side presented toward the lever 16 with a trigger member 9! which extends upwardly in spaced relation to the post and is hinged thereto as at 82 for a limited swinging movement in the plane of movement of the lever 16. The trigger member 8| extends upwardly in spaced relation to the post 89 and is provided with a step 85 which is adapted to engage the end portion of the lever I6 when the lever is in a raised position. A coil spring 86 yieldably holds the trigger member 8! in an outward position and the trigger member 8! extends upwardly beyond the cylinder II.

A lever 8'! is fulcrumed to a suitable bracket 88 and depends therefrom; in the path of the cylinder II which engages the lever 91 at a point adjacent the fulcrumed end thereof. The free end of the short lever 81 engages the upper portion of the trigger member 8| whereby a relatively short outward movement of the cylinder II will cause a substantially greater movement of the member 8!.

The numeral denotes a by-pass line which is connected by a T coup ling 9| and 92 to the line 68. A hollow cylinder 94 is operatively con nected to the line 90 and projects upwardly therefrom. A piston 95 is mounted in the cylin der 94 with a piston rod 96 projecting upwardly beyond the end of the cylinder. The piston rod 96 is provided with an upwardly presented fork 9'l'which embraces the lever I6.

The numeral 98 denotes an accelerator tank which may be interposed in the line 90 for a purpose hereinafter described. The line 90 is provided on one side of the cylinder 94 with a handle operated valve 93 which is ordinarily set to slowly admit air to the cylinder 94. The bypass 99 is provided on the other side of the cylinder 94 with a valve 99, similar to the valve 13 and which is: normally closed. 1

The valve 99 is provided with a stem I 00 which passes through an opening in the horizontal position I02 of the arm IOI which is pivotally secured to the lever 76 at a point adjacent the fulcrumed end thereof. The nut I 00a. is threaded on the stem I0 whereby it may be adjustably opera-ted thereon to engage the horizontal portion I02 so that the valve 99 is opened by a. partial upward movement of the lever 16.

The line 68 is also provided with a valve I04 which is similar to the valves I3 and 99 and which is provided with an upwardly presented stem I03 having a nut I06 which engages the horizontal portion II]? of an arm I08 which depends from the lever I6 whereby the valve I04 is normally closed but is opened when the lever 16 is in a raised position.

The numeral I09 denotes spring operated inlet valves which are similar to the valves I0 and serve the same purpose. Each inlet valve I09 is provided with a stem I I0 in which is mounted a coil spring III and a nut H2 is threaded on the end of the stem I I0 whereby it may be operated to compress the spring III and regulate the operation of said valve. A valve I I3 is interposed in the line 65 and serves the same purpose as the valve 32.

The cylinder il is provided with ears H4 and the coupling H5 in the line I0 with ears H6 and bolts I I? are mounted in suitable apertures in said ears with a spring H8 compressed between each ear H6 and a nut H9 which is threaded on the end of each bolt Ill. The springs H8 serve the same purpose as the springs 3|.

In using the adaptation of the invention shown in Figure 6, the valve H3 is operated to regulate the flow of fluid from the tank 8 to the line 65. As the valve 13 is closed, the fluid pressure forces the cylinder II outwardly against the lever 8'1 which in turn moves the trigger member 8|. This moves the step 85 from. beneath the end of the lever 16 whereupon the weight 19 moves the lever downwardly to the stop I20 as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 6.

The downward movement of the lever 16 opens the valve 13 and closes the valves 99 and I04 and air under pressure flows through the line 65 and 66 to the tube I8. The pressure in the pipe 10 is thus released and the springs H8 return the cylinder 1| to its normal position. Air

thus admitted by the pipe 66 forces the water downwardly in the tube l8 and discharges it through the pipe 2I. Air also flows through the by-pass line 90 and is slowly admitted through the valve 93 to the cylinder 94 thus slowly raising the piston 95. When the piston is raised by the lever I6 a predetermined distance, the arm IM lifts the stem I00 and opens the valve 99 75 thus suddenly admitting the full force of the pressure to the by-pass and quickly moving the lever 16 upwardly against the stop I21 where it is engaged by the step 85 in the trigger member 8|. This movement closes the valve 13 and opens the valve I04 whereby air under pressure in the tube I8 is admitted through the pipe 68 to the intake end of the compressor 5. The compressor easily pumps the air under pressure from the tube l8 and continues to operate until a partial vacuum is created in the tube l8 which raises the water in said tube. When the suction within the tube l8 has reached a predetermined point, the valve 39 operates to admit air to the compressor 5 whereby air lost during each operation is automatically replenished. The partial vacuum also draws the piston downwardly in the cylinder 94. When the pressure in the tank 8 becomes sufiicient to overcome the springs H8 the cylinder 1| moves outwardly and the operation above described is repeated.

It will thus be seen that the adaptation of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 will operate in exactly the same manner as the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Having thus illustrated my invention and described the same in detail, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pumping apparatus of the character described, a closed container having a valve controlled inlet opening at the lower end thereof for admitting liquid thereto, a discharge pipe leading from the lower portion of said container, a tube connected to the upper portion of said container, a fluid compressor having an outlet pipe and an inlet pipe connected to said tube, a valve in the outlet pipe, a valve in the inlet pipe, fluid operated means connected to said inlet pipe for opening the valve therein and closing the valve in the inlet pipe, a by-pass line connected to said tube and fluid operated means interposed in said by-pass line for closing the valve in said outlet pipe and operating the valve in said inlet pipe.

2. In a pumping apparatus of the character described, a closed container having an inlet opening at the lower end thereof for admitting liquid thereto, a check valve preventing the flow of liquid from said opening, a discharge pipe leading from the lower portion of said container, a fluid compressor; a tube leading from the discharge end of said compressor to said container,

a pressure tank operatively interposed in said tube, an inlet pipe connecting said tube to the intake of said compressor; a valve in said tube, a valve in said inlet pipe, springs normally holding said valves in a closed position and means operated by fluid pressure for alternately opening said valves.

3. In a pumping apparatus of the character described, a closed container having an inlet opening at the lower end thereof for admitting liquid thereto, a check valve preventing the flow of liquid from said opening, a discharge pipe leading from the lower portion of said container, afluid compressor; a tube leading from the discharge end of said compressor to said container, a pressure tank operatively interposed in said tube, an inlet pipe connecting said tube to the intake of said compressor; a valve in said tube, a valve in said inlet pipe, springs normally holding said valves in a closed position and fluid operated timing means for regulating the recurring operation of said valves.

4.1m a pump of the character described, a closed container having an inlet opening in the lower end portion thereof; a check valve controlling said opening; a discharge pipe leading from the lower portion of said container; a pressure tank, a fluid compressor having an outlet pipe leading to said tank; a tube leading from said tank to the upper portion of said container; a normally closed valve in said tube; an inlet pipe connecting said tube to the intake of said compressor; a normally closed valve in said intake pipe; a lever, yieldable means normally moving said lever to a downward position, means connected to said lever for opening the valve in said tube when the lever is in a downward posi' tion; means connected to said lever for opening the valve in said inlet pipe when the lever is in an upward position; a spring operated latch op erable to hold said lever in an upward position, regulatable means operated by fluid pressure within said tank for releasing said latch; a bypass line in said inlet pipe, fluid operated means connected to said by-pass line for moving said lever to an upward position; a manually operated valve at one end of said by-pass line; a normally closed valve at the other end thereof and means operated by a partial upward movement of said lever for opening the last named valve.

LESTER L. CLARK. 

